Apparatus for process embossing



April 13 1926.

R. J. NICHOLS v APPARATUS FOR PROCESS EMBOSSING Filed Peg. '20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NMI INVENTORY. Jfzchara? J. Jlfz'ciwls 3 BY I Witness ATTORNEY April 13 1926. 1,580,671

I R. J. NICHOLS APPARATUS FOR PROCESS EMBQSSING F iled Feb. 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,580,671 PATENT orrics.)

RICHARD J. NICHOLS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

AIPIQABATUS FOR PROCESS EMBOSSING'.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,817.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Process Embossing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for carrying out process or plateless embossing, and embodies means for sprinkling an embossing composition on freshly printed matter, a rotary drum having vacuum means which pick fup the printed matter piece by piece and carry it around to receive the embossing coniposition, means for removing the surplus embossing composition from the printed matter, means for interrupting the vacuum to permit release of the printed matter from the drum, and thermal means for fusing the embossing composition and the wet ink of the printed matter.

Other features will hereinafter appear, and in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accon' 'panying drawings, in which:

Fig. l a broken side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus.

F g. 2 is a horizontal section on line IIII of Fig. 1, with the drum rotated one-sixth of a revolution to bring two diametricallyopposed' rows of vacuum tubes in a horizontal plane.

Fig. "3 is a fragmentary plan view of a feed table from which the printed matter is fed to the drum. v

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of a pair of arms.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the vacuum tubes and associated parts.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a suitable case suchv as 2, inWhich the major portion of the'apparatus is enclosed.

4 designates a drum into which air cannot enter, excepting "through the vacuum tubes 6 which are arranged in radially disposed rows as shown by Figsl and 2. The drum 4 consists preferably, of a series of rings 8, felt or other gaskets 10 placed between said rings 8, and heads 12 at the ends of the drum, the whole being firmly held together by tie-rods 14. This construction enables the drum to be lengthened or short ened according to the size of machine desired by adding or subtracting rings 8.

The drum 4 is journal'ed upon one end of a suction tube 16 and a stub shaft 20 mounted in standards 18.' The opposite end of the suction tube 16 is connected to the intake of a blower 22 equipped with a discharge pipe 24 terminating in an air distributing nozzle 26 directed towards the drum 4 and disposed above a chute 28 adapted to conduct the embossing composition blown off the printed matter to an endless elevator 30. equipped with buckets 32. The drum heads 12 are equipped with stufiing boxes 33 to prevent leakage of air between said heads and the suction tube 16 and'the stub shaft 20.

The elevator 30 is arranged at the rear of the drum 4 and discharges into a chute 34, down which the powder passes to a screen 36 through which it is caused to pass in a uniform manner by a rotary agitator or beater 38" I "'14 -The drum 4, the blower 22, and the agitator 38 are driven through the instrumentality of sprocket mechanisms 40, 42 and 44, respectively, actuated by a motor 45, and the elevator 30 is driven from the' agitator 38 .through sprocket mechanism 46.

Returning to the vacuumtubes 6, one of which is shown in detail by Fig. 5, each is provide'd at its outer end with an annular cushion 50 to insure an air-tight contact with theprinted matter such as A, which may be in the form of sheets, cards, envelopes, etc. Each vacuum tube 6 is also equipped with a ball valve 52 and a coil spring 54 attached to said ball valve 52 and an eye-bolt 56 extending through a guide 58 and equipped with a nut 60,'whereby said eye-bolt 56 may be adjusted to locate the valve 52 in proper arms 66, which are clamped upon the sta-' tionary suction tube 16 and the shaft 20 by bolts 68. I

70 designates a feed table arranged above the drum 4 and terminating in lingers 72,.

which are spaced apart to permit the passage of the vacuum tubes 6 as the same are carried around by' the drum 4.

74 designates a chute upon which the,

printed matter is disposed by the vacuum tubes 6. The printed matter passes from said chute 74, to an endless conveyor 76,

which carries said printed matter beneath an electric or other suitable heater 78, which fuses the wet ink and the embossing composition.

a The operation, briefly stated, is as follows: The printed matter is delivered from the printing press, not shown, to the feed table 70, from which it is fed to the successive rows of vacuum tubes 6 as they pass upwardly through tlr'e'spaces separating the fingers 72. Normally atmospheric pressure aided by the vacuum created in the drum 4 by the blower 22 holds the valves 52 Seated, but when a printed card or sheet is picked up by one or more of the vacuum tubes 6 the atmospheric pressure, or the greater portion thereof, is cut off from the valves 52 which are then opened against the action of the vacuum by the springs 54-. As the valves 52 are opened the vacuum within the drum i, aided by a preponderance of atmospheric pressure on top of the card or sheet causes the same to adhere to the cushion or cushions 50. As the drum 4 revolves, the printed matter, with its printed side uppermost, is sprinkled. with the embossing powder forced through the screen 36 by the agitator 88. The embossing powder adheres to the fresh ink as the printed matter is carried around to the discharge nozzle 26, from which the surplus powder is blown by the air discharged from said nozzle 26. As the drum t continues to. revolve the printed matter is carried above the chute 74, at which time the suction power of the vacuum is temporarily interrupted by the soft rollers 62, which effectually close the inner ends of the tubes 6 as the same pass over the rollers-62.

As the vacuum in the tubes 6 is interrupted by the rollers 62, air enters said tubes 6 until the pressure therein equals the outer atmospheric pressure whereupon the printed matter falls from said tubes 6 onto the chute 74a and is carried thereby to the conveyor 76, which conducts the printed matter under the heater 78, whereby the ink and eml 103sing powder are fused. As the vacuum tubes 6 pass the rollers 62, the valves 52 are immediately reseated and prevent air from entering the drum 4 and destroying the vacuum therein. The surplus embossing powder blown from the. printed matter by air discharged by the nozzle 26 is carried back through the chute28 to the elevator 30 which raises it to the chute 34 from which it is again discharged upon the printed matter through the screen 36 by the agitator 38, hence there is'no waste of embossing powder.

From the foregoing description it is apembodying the advantages above pointed out, and while I have shown and described the preferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as'properly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary vacuum drum adapted to carry printed matter therewith, means for sprinkling powder upon the printed matter as it is carried around by said drum, an elevator for lifting said powder above the level of'tlie drum, means for distributing said powder over the printed matter carried by the drum, a nozzle through which air is discharged to blow off the excess powder from the printed matter, a chute leading back to the elevator and adapted to receive the excess powder, and a. nozzle through which air ,is discharged into said chute for blowing the excess powder therethrough to said elevator.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary vacuum drum having a radial port extending through the cylindrical shell thereof, a'valve arranged within said port and adapted to control communication between the intcrior of said drum and the outer atmosphere, and spring means for actuating said valve.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary vacuum drum having a radial port extending through the cylindrical shell thereof, a valve arranged withinsaid port and adapted to control communication between the interior of said drum and the outer atmosphere, spring means for actuating said valve, and a cushion surrounding the outer end of said port.

I. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary vacuumvdrum having a radial port extending through the cylindrical shell thereof, a valve arranged within said port and adapted to control .communication between the interior ,of said drum and the outer atmosphere, spring means for actuating said valve, and a roller within the drum which closes the port at each revolution of said drum.

5, In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drum, means for exhausting the air out of said drum, tubes extending radially through the cylindrical shell of said drum and provided with valve seats, ball valves arranged within said tubes and adapted to engage the valve seats, spring means for opening said valves when the outer ends of the tubes are closed, and means within the drum for successively closing the tubes as parent that I have produced an apparatus the drum revolves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD J. NICHOLS.

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